OCCUPATIONAL TOXICITY OF COPPER AND THEIR HEALTH IMPLICATIONS ON INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF AJMER CITY, RAJASTHAN, INDIA

ABSTRACT

Occupational exposure to copper (Cu) is widespread problem in every region. Cu is an important engineering material of choice of technology having wide industrial application. It is one of the toxic metals, which causes many health hazards in human being. The Cu concentrations in blood serum and urine were analysed in different age group of industrial workers of Ajmer city, Rajasthan, India. The aim of this study was to examine the Cu concentrations in blood serum and urine and also to show its health implications on industrial workers. The levels of serum Cu range from 0.000–465.92 µg/dl and urinary Cu concentrations ranging from 0.000–11.7 umol/l (74.52 µg/dl). The prominent symptoms among the industrial workers are vomiting, jaundice, gastrointestinal distress, decreased lung function, renal failure etc. Such results indicate that occupational exposure increases the serum and urinary Cu levels of different industrial workers and adversely affecting multiple organ systems specially lungs, liver and kidneys and might cause permanent damage